Envelop-sealing machine.



G. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG.

- ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1911.

1,144,955 Patented June 29, 1915.

12 SHEETSSHEEi' 1.

M5565: v i 9 F I 665% B 6.1. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

MPLICATK)? HLED APR.20 159111 Patented June 29, 1915.

$2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

wwi

wig

flaw? Z L. LONG.

v.1 ALBRECHT (S2 3.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED APR.20. x911,

Patented June 29, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Nitnwsa (36, 5M *2.

G. J. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG. ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AFR.2D, 19H. 1,14%,955a

PatentedJune 29, 1915.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Witnesses f (5. 65M

G. J. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG.

ENVELOPSEALING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 19I l- 1,144,955 Patented June 29, 1915.

I2 SHEETS-SHEET 6 irA ne 5,

(1'. J. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

j Imelda 5y theL'rA r'neys Ifitnesses G. 1. ALBRECHT & 1. LONG.

ENVELOP SEIALING MACHINE. I APucATlon FILED APR. 20, 1911.

. 1Patentedlun29, 1915.

' l2 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Invader .vwzizwsses, v I M L 5 ,Q M thew 71150112695,

G. J. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG.

.E'NVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 20, 1911.

Patented June 29 1915.

12 SHEETSSHEET 9.

I A, By marmmm masses,

[3.1. ALBRECHT & S. L. LONG. ENVELOP SEALlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.20, 1911.

Patented June 29, 1915.

12 SHEETSSHEE T H.

B tlwirA 1116 5;"

G, J. ALBRECHT & L. LONG.

ENVELOP SEALING MACHINE.

Patented June 29, 1915. I

. APPLlCATlON FILED APR.20,19H- 1,144,955.

12 SHEETS-SHEET 1 2- 5 Ilwqzwrd wAmr'm sz GUIDO J. ALBRECHT AND SIDNEY L. LONG,

TO LONG MAILING MACHINE COMPANY RATION.

OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNORS OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, A COR-PO- ENVELOP-SEALING MACHINE.

Application filed April 20, 1911.

To all T171077? it may concern Be it known that we, GUIDo J. ALBRECHT and SIDNEY L. LONG, citizens of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Sealing Machines; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention. such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

Our invention has for its object to provide a thoroughly reliable envelop sealing machine of very highcapacity, and to such ends. generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

In the attainment of the objects above briefly stated, numerous diiiiculties are encountered. The various kinds and character of post-ollice matter ranging from flimsy envelops with flimsy and light contents to envclops in which more or less bulky and irregular merchandise is inclosed, make the proper successive selection of envelops from a stack thereof contained in a supply magazine or holder, one at a time, a matter hard to accomplish with certainty. Even after this proper selection has been made, there is much ditliculty in properly handling and sealing these variously loaded envelops.

The mucilage on the envelop flaps must first be properly moistriied and thereafter properly pressed closed, but the closing of the moistened envelops mustnot be accomplished immediately after moistening, for a sullicient time must be allowed to permit the mucilage to be properly softened by the applied water. Then, and finally, the sealed envelops should be properly stacked.

In designing the improved machine hereinafter described, all of the above noted facts have been taken into considerationand the machine, which has been put into actual use, meets all of the requirements and overcomes all of the diiiicult obstacles encountered in rapidly and eiiiciently sealing all kinds of envelops with their various different kinds of loads or contents.

The following is a brief forecast, or general statement of the construction and action of the improved sealing machine, and which I it is thought will facilitate a quick under- Specification of Letters Patent.

supply magazine,

Patented June 29, 1915. Serial No. 622,254.

standing of the more detailed description which will follow:

The loaded or filled envelops are piled in a stack with their flaps opened up in, or approximately in a plane with the bodies of the envelope and are placed in a suitable socalled. This supply ma gazine has an escapement device of novel construction which will raise to permit the lowermost envelop, only, to be fed from the stack, regardless of the thickness of the said envelop, or the character of its contents.

From the magazine, the envelops are fed from the bottom of the stack, one at a. time, by a novel feed device comprising a reciprocating head having one or more long and preferably flat spring fingers, the free ends of which move in the plane of the open mouth of the lowermost envelop and are arranged to enter the envelop and to feed the same from the bottom of the stack by pressure against the back or bottom edge of the envelop. By means of this feed device and cooperating rollers the ejected envelop with its flap still open is fed to and past a moistening device which applies the moisture properly to the gummed surface of the open envelop flap.

From the moistening device, the envelops are fed to a transfer device in the form of an intermediate rotating reel. By the rotation of this reel and the cooperating action of a. segmental sheath, the moistened flaps of the envelops are partly closed, or turned back so that they may be easily, thereafter, closed, by the action of the sealing rollers. to which latter they are delivered by the said reel. The reel performs an additional and highly important service, to-Wit, it carries and holds the envelops for a suilicient length of time to permit the moistened gum on the flaps of the cnvelops to become soft-and sticky, so that when the flap is closed the mucilage, or gum, will have its full adhesive action.

The envelops are delivered to the sealing rollers, as stated, with their flaps turned backward, and certain of these said sealing rollers are preteraloly made sectional with sections independently spring pressed so that they will adapt themselves to irregularities in the contents of the envelops.

The sealed envelops pass from the sealing rollers to a stacking device by which they are tightly pressed together and .held in compact form while the dryingbf the' sealed.

envelope is completed and until, the e'nvelops arefiemoved from the delivery end of the stac 5 The'present invention is particularly directed to the provision of an in} *roved en- 'velopmoistening and transferring mechanism, and to the novel cofiperative arrangeinent of the same.

I it In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the improved machine, like characare, indicate like parts throughout the sevialjviews.

." Referring to he drawings, Figure lie 15 a. left side elevation of the complete machine; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the improved machine with the envelop magazine re-' moved; Fig.3 is a vertical, section taken "-from front to rear through the complete 20 machine, agprox matelypn the line m m 1g. 4 1s tin-enlarged vertical secof ii v tion s, owing theupper portion of the ma- -ch.ine, including'c'hiefiy the envelop maga:

', "zine, the envelop feed device, and the mois- 25 'tening device, th

head; Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken 01f,

--"the line :20" w of Fig. 2; Fig. 8 is aplan 55 view ofthe envelop magazine, some parts being broken away; Fig. 9 is avertical section taken on the line as m of Fig. 8; Fig. 10

is a horizontal section taken on the line w w of Fig. 3 showing thesealing rollers;

f Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line roller whic m w?- of Fig. 10, some'parts being broken away; Fig.12 is a fragmentary view in vertical section on the line-w m" of- Fig. Fig. 13 is a rear elevation showing the main 5 feed roller and connected devices, some parts beingbroken away; Fig. .14 is a transverse :..section taken on the line w w? of Fig. 13, some arts being broken away and some parts ein removed, and showing also a coiiperates withthe said main feed roller; Fig. 15 is a section taken on the inc :0 m of Fig. 13, some parts being broken away and some parts being removed, and showing also a roller which cobperates with the said main feed roller; Fig. 16 is a detail in section on the line :0 m of Fig. 13; Fig. 17 is an "enlarged view corresponding in the line of its sectionto Fig. 3 and illustrating the envelop packer; Fig. 18 is a 0 left side elevation showing the mechanism for'op'erating the envelop'packer; Fig. 19 is .a plan view showing the supporting table of the envelop packer and a tension device m the movable resistance plate or member i-JhQreof; and Fig. 20- which is shown on the velopsare engaged, is the ,upper portion of the ma e. chine; Fi .6 is a perspective view with some of different lengths.

same sheet as Fig.16, is a transverse verti cal section taken on the line x x of Fig. 17.

The framework 1 of the machine is shown as made-up chiefly of, a pair of. laterally spaced plates or brackets tied together by suitable cross connections, including, as shown, a bottom shelf 2, which latter, in the. present instance, is utilized to support a small electric motor 3 for drivingthe machine; The motor shaft carries a pulley 4, and a driving belt 5 runs over this pulley and over a much larger pulley 6, carried by a transverse shaft 7 journaled in the intermediate upper portion of the frame brackets 1'.

E nvelop maga22'ne.-The envelops a with the gummed flaps a turned open, as above; stated, andas best shown in Fig. 4:, are -ar-' ranged in a stack and are placed upon the bottom of the envelop magazine. The bot tom or feed table member of this envelop magazine is preferably inclined and of skele 11 2 '1 ton "form, being indicated as an entirety by" the numeral 8, and having its sides rigidly secured to the upper portions of the framev brackets against which thebottom edges of the enalso preferably slightly inclined and, as shown, it is afforded by laterally projecting flanges of channel transverse tie bar 1 of the main frame.

J The lower ends of the bars 9 te1minate sufficiently above the feed table8 to permit the largest and most heavily loaded envelop to 1. The back of the magazine, i

plates 9 that are rigidlysecuredfto a fixed be fed thereunder. The side plates 10 of the magazine are laterally spaced and are adjustable toward and from each other, preferably by means which keep the same always equidistant from the transverse center 0 the machine. As shown, the said adjustable side plates 10 are provided with hubs 11" (see particularly Figs. Sand 9) arranged to slide on the tie bar 1 of themaehine frame. l0 the central portion of the tie bar 1 there is, as shown, rigidly secured. a bearing 12,-to

which the intermediate joint of a lazy tong 13 is pivotallyattached. The outer joints of the lazy tong 13 are shown as pivoted to metal arms 14 rigidly secured to the hubs 11 of the adjustable side plates 10. This'lazy tong connection between the side plates 10, as

is evident, keeps the said side plates always equidistant from the transverse center of the machine under the various adjustments of the said side plates required for envelop's cause it keeps envelop's, regardless of length,

same place in respect to the various parts of the ma hine.

This is important be- The envelop magazine is provided withan escapemcnt device of novel construction which holds back the lowermost envelop and permits'the escapeflor discharge offon'ly measles one envelop at a time. This escapernent device is best shown in Figs. 4, 8 and 9, and it comprises a stop blade 15 that is secured to and depends from a pair of laterally spaced upright ba rs 16 that are connected by parallel links 17 to the fixed bars 9. The parallel links 1i", it will be noted, are oblique in respect to the plane of the feed table 8 s9 that when the stop blade 15 is pressed ward the said parallel links will cause the said blade to rise and pass over the envelop pressed against the said blade, but immediately, when the said blade is passed to the upper surface of the lowermost outpassing envelop, it will be raised no further and will hold back the envelop second from the bottom. Preferably, light leaf springs 18, at tached to the upper ends of the bars 9 engage the upper ends of the movable bars 16, and hence, assis t gravity in yieldingly pressing the stop blade 15 downward. The tension of the springs 18 is adapted to be varied by set screws 19 that work'through projections of the bars 9.

Em'elop feed .mecham's-m.A feed head 20 in the form of a. plate is arranged to slide toward and from the escapeinentstop blade 15 in runways 2?. shown as formed in intermediate bars of the feed table 8. This feed head 20 carz ies several, as shown three, long and flat s ring feeding lingers 22 attached thereto atone end, and with their free ends projecting slightly upward and in front of the feedv head in position to enter the bottom envelop of the stack and to engage the back edge thereof to force the said envelop against and under the escapcment slop bled e15. These spring fingers should be very flexible, and hence, they are attached to the. feed head 2Q only at one end, so that their free ends will adapt themselves to different envelops regardless of the thickness of their load or fillers. In some instances, it

, LS thought to be desirable to provide small 4E) spring-pressed levers 23, shown in Fig. 4, having at their free ends, laterallyprojecting pins 24 pressing upward on the free lends of the spring fingers 22- when the latter are retracted or moved into their most forward position shown in Fig. 4. These le- ,vers 23 are shown as pivoted to brackets 25 secured to the upper front portion of the achine frame. The levers 23 act on the Firing fingers 22 w iilc they are entering the ower envelop, but immediately thereafter, the front edge of the feed head 20 strikes the laid levers and forces the same downward 'nto inoperative position. To hold up the open flaps 1 of the envelop so that the free ends of the fingers22 will freely pass under the lower one, a stilf flap supporting finger 26 is secured to the upper front end of the feed table 8 with its free end underlying and supporting the said lowermost flap. In Fig. 4, the envelop flap is not shown as engaged reai ' 40 with with the said linger 26, but when a stack of envelops is placed in the magazine, the said lower flap will be pressed downward against the ends of the said linger. It is important to note that when the feed head i-O is retracted or moved forward and upward, to

its normal limit. the free ends of the lingers 22 move beyond the body of cnvelops but are not withdrawn from under the flap of the last envelop. llcncc, the said lingers cannot by any possibility. be forced oil the top of the bottom envelop and are spring pressed upward so that when moved in the direction to feed the envelop. it will run along the undcrsurt'ace ol' the top sheet of the envelop and, hence. will not engage with the contents of the envelop.

The feed head 20 is given sullirient movement to cause the lingers to food the bottom envelop nearly or quite out of the magazine and into engagement with feed rollers, hereinafter described, by which the said envelop is subjected to and moved passed the moistcuing device. To thus ro ci procatc the feed head 21). it connected by a link 27 lo the upper end oi an arm 28, the lower end of which is secured to u. rock shaft 21), journalcd in the frame brackets 1. To the outer cud of lhe rock shaft 29 is secured another arm 230. The free end of the arm fit) is connected by a link 31 to an adjustable throw crank 32 (see particularly Figs. 1 and 5). This adjustable throw 32 i carried by an under gear 33 journalcd to the left hand frame bracket 1. The adjustable. throw crank 32 is shown as connected to the gear 33 by an axial stud 3i and coiipcruting lock screw 35. both of which work in a longitudinal slot of the said crank. Preferably. the crank is niarl-zcd or graduated to indicate when the same is properly set for'thc feeding of the cnvclops of dill'crcnt widths (sec particularly Fig. 5). In Fig. 4 there is shown light depending spring rods 36 secured at their upper ends to the frame tic bar 1 with their free ends in position to slightly press downward on the cnvclops as they are fed from the magazine. lly radial adjustments of the crank 32, the envelop feeding lingers are set for proper feed movements for envclops of different widths.

zlloistcn'inf (lo/rice rmrl coii wmti/q foo/Z rollcrs.'lhe moistening device illustrated comprises a pair of frictionally engaging rollers 37 and 38, the former of which has a shaft 39 extended through and journaled in the frame brackets 1, and the latter of which is journalcd in the water box or tank its lower portion arranged to work in the water 2 contained therein. Both of the rollers 37 and 38 are preferably faced with absorbent material such as cloth. The tank 40 is shown'as secured to the upper ends of a pair of plates 41 that are pivoted is shown as froller 38 may be set under varyin 'ment of the plates 41' is .as shown, on To intermittently 39 at one end (-see Fig.5) is provided with. ma ratchet wheel 44 in which cofiperates a spring pressedretaining pawl 45 mounted,

rotate the water distribut ing or applying roller 37 the ratchet wheel '44 is acted uponlby a spring pressed driving pawl 46 that is eccentrically pivoted at 47 to a spur gear 48 'journaled on the lefti hand frame bracket 1 and in mesh with the .journaled to of the said roller.

jects through one able idle roller levers spur gear 33, before noted.

The envelops when fed from the bottom of the magazine, are directed toward the upper surface of the moistening roller 37 with the gummed surface of their flap downward for contact with the wet surfaces On-their way to the said roller 37, they are passed over a continuously driven roller 49, the shaft of'which is journaled in the frame brackets 1 and prothereof, and is provided at its righthand end with a sprocket 50 indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7. For cooperation with the roller 49, there is a mov- 51 journaled in the upper ends of a pair of levers 52 that are pivoted at their lower ends to the frame brackets 1 and are provided with laterally projecting rollers 53 that work on cams 54 (see particularly Figs. 4, 7, 13 and 16). These cams are carrie by a continuously running motor driven shaft 7 already noted. Levers 52 are yieldingly drawn downward by coiled.

springs 55 'hat tend to engage the roller 51 with the roller 49.

From the moistening roller 37 the envelops are delivered to the upper surface of a large segmental main feed roller 56 which is. carried by the driving shaft 7. For cooperation with this segmental feed roller 56, there is provided an idle presser roller 57 the free ends .of a pair of levers 58 pivoted at their lower ends to the frame brackets 1. To properly control the movements of the presser roller from the feed roller 56, a pair of-cams 59 are (53133106. by the .shaft 7 and operate on the en Coiled springs 60 are connected between the 58 and frame brackets 1 and tend to move the roller 57 into engagement with the roller 56. I

The segmental surface of I the main feed screwed into the are the lefthand frame bracket 1.

- that they hold as shown in 57 toward and ortlon's of the said presser roller 57.

roller 56 is of proper support for the envelops and to 1mart thereto the. proper feed movements, but its cut-away portion clears the gummed parts of the envelop flap. As shown, the said segmental roller 56 is provided with a. supplemental section 56 which engages with the ungummed portion of the envelop flap.

A flap presser 61 for pressing the gummed portion of the flaps. against the wet surface of the moistening roller 37, is secured to the upper ends of a pair of levers 62 that pivoted at 63 to the Coiled springs 64- (see Fig. 4) tend to engage the comb 61 with the moistening roller 37. Each lever 62 is provided with a laterally projecting roller 65 that works. on a cam 66' carried by the motor driven shaft 7. These earns 66 affect the movements of .the comb 61'toward'and from the rollers 37 at. the proper times.

The cams 54are the presser roller 51 raised,

ing passed between the same, and the roller- 49, and immediately thereafter, they permit the said roller Fig. 4, while the-envelop is besufiicient extent to afiord the frame brackets 1.

so constructedand timed 51 tolower and thereby press the envelop against the roller 49 so that the envelop will be-fed onward over the moistening roller 37. The cams 66 are so constructed and timed that the presser 61 will be raised at the proper time to permit the body of-the envelop to pass under-the same and over will cause the said comb to descend to the the moistening roller 37, but they outer surface of the gummed flap and press the gummed flap against the saidmoistening roller. The cams 59 are so constructed and timed .that they will hold the presser roller 57 raised or retracted from the. seg mental main 'feed edgeof the envelop has been delivered between the same and the said segmental roller, and as soon as the envelop reaches this position, the said cams will permit the saidpresser roller 57 to same thereby pressing the envelop against roller 56 until the bottom' descend on to the the said main feed roller and insuring the proper'feed movement'thereof under the re tation of the 'said main feedroller 56. p the means described, the enve' ops will be properly moistened.

115.. the gummed flap of I The above described feed rollers which" control the movements of the envelops to and past the moistening device or roller, also serve transfer reel.

- The cams 54 which operate the roller 51' are so timed that the said roller 51 will be moved against the coiiperating roller 49 immediately after an envelop has been started between the same by the, feedfingers 22.

The pawl and'ratchet device which operates the moistening roller 37 is so timed that i the said roller will remain stationary,atga

12 0 to deliver the envelops' to the so-called time when the member gummed flap of the envelop against the moist surface of the roller.

Transfer real and associating deviccs- The transfer reel. as preferably constructed, is in the form of-a transverse shaft 67 having a multiplicity of laterally spaced pairs of radial prongs 68 arranged to afford radial compartments into which the envelops are adapted to be inserted edgewise with their bottom edges directed inward and with their moistened flaps projecting outward from the receiving compartments afforded by the said pairs of prongs. As illustrated, the reel is thus formed with six envelop receiving compartments, and hence, the reel shaft 67, which is journaled on the frame brackets 1, is provided at one projecting end with a six-toothed ratchet wheel 69 shown in Figs. 1,2 and 5.

The reel is given an intermittent six-step rotation by a spring pressed driving dog 70 which, as shown, acts upon the ratchet wheel 69. works through a keeper guide 71 on the ad j acent fra me bracket and, like the driving pawl 16. is eccentrically pivoted at 47 to the continuously driven gear 48.

' Extending quite close to the 'outer ends of the reel prongs 68 and also intermediate thereof, from a point nearly vertically be low the shaft 67, preferably to a point above the presser roller 57, is a segmental sheath shown as made up of three thin metal strips As shown, these strips 72 are supported from the frame bracket 1 by small transverse rods 73 and T4.

The reel is rotated in the direction of the arrows marked adjacent thereto on Figs. 3 and 11. and under rotation of the reel, in this direction. the moistened gnmmcd flaps will he engaged with the segmental strips 72 and turned backward or toward closed positions approirimately as indicated in Figs. 3 and 11.

From the downturned compartment of the reel. the inverted envelop 1S delivered to the scaling rollers and to insure the downward discharge of the envelop from the reel, an automatic ejectoris employed. This ejector (see Figs. 4, and 7) is in the formof a long arm'TS secured to a transverse shaft 76 that is pivoted in the frame brackets 1. At its freeeud. this ejector arm is provided with a head'Ti'that normally stands in position to engage the upturned edge of the inverted. downturnedenvelop so that when the said lcvt-r is released it will fall by gravity, or, if desired, by the assistance of a spring, not shown. and will. as indicated, insure the discharge ofth'e said envelop and the proper delivery thereof to the sealing rollers. The properly timed movements of the ejector ifarc controlled by a cam 78 that opa roller or lateral projection 79 of arm. This cam 78 is carried by a 22. verseshaft 80 journaled in the frame 61 presses the' brackets 1 and provided atone end with an under gear 81 that meshes with the continuously driven gear 33, before described, (see A retaining disk 82 (see Fig. 7) is secured to the reel shaft 67. This disk 2 is provided with six V-shaped notches 83 that are engaged by the V-shaped point of a spring pressed retaining dog 84 pivoted to one of the frame brackets l. The disk 83, and cooperating dog Rt yieldingly hold the reel in its several different positions and prevent accidental movements thereof, and furthermore, insure proper alinement with the downturned compartmeht of the wheel with the sealing rollers and of the reel compare ment which is in a receiving position with the contacting surfaces of the rollers 56 and 57. The numeral 85 indicates'a yielding stop plate suitably supported from the frame brackets 1 in position to assist in directing the downturncd and discharged envelop from the reel to the sealing rollers.

The stop plate 85 is shown as pivoted on a transverse'rod S5 and is subject to a torsional spring 85*. his spring'85 normally holds said plate 85, as shown in Figs. 3, 11 and 20, but permits the same to yield, and thereby prevents clogging of the machine in case an envelop should become crowded and caught at the ing rollers.

lSe/zZ-z'ng r0ZZc1-s.To seal the envelops', they are preferably run between the pairs of sealing rollers, which pairs are located one over the other. as best shown in Figs. 3, 7, 10 and 11. Both of these pairs of rollers are alike and one member of each pair is a continuous smooth roller 86. while the cooperating so-called roller of each pair is made up of a multiplicity of roller sections or wheels 87 journaled in plungers 88, mounted for movements toward and from the cooper-a ting rollers 86 and suitable hen ring bars 89 and 90. The bars 89 are rigidly supported by the pedestal side frames 1, while the bar 90 is movable and is made adjustable by set screws 91 that work through suitable bearings 92 secured on the frame brackets 1. (oiled springs 93 are placed on the plunger-s R8 and are compressed between the adjustable plate 5 and pins 9t carried by the said plnngers. The function of the springs 93 is to permit an independent yielding movement of the plungers 88 and the roller sections carried thereby, so that when an envelop carrying an object of irregular form is passed between the cooperating sealing rollers, all portions of the gnnimed envelop flap will, nevertheless, be tightly pressed and the envelop thoroughly scaled. By reference to Fig. 10, it will he noted, that the roller section or wheels 87 of the upper a nd lower sectional. presser rollers a re stag gored and overlapped so that the gummed point of delivery to the seal- 2, 7 and 13 which is carried by the driving by the action of the operatinimechaHfiQ, 6

.15idlers 98 and 99 mounted on' one of the ward upon the movable late 10,5.

I a the upper to the shafts of said rollers which 'fiat plate-like arm 117 that is subject to a fla of the envelop passing between the same reference to Fig. 17, it will be seen that when wi lbe pressed at all points. y I 'a sealedi'env'el is first dropped back of. The upper sealing roller 86" is provided the packer hea 107, it will stand in front atone end (see Figs. 7v and 10) with a small of the transverse portion of the retaining,- 5' SPI'Dcket 95 that is driven. by an endless fingers 114. At a time just before the 19%' sprocket chain 96. This sprocket chain 96 packer head is moved against the last 'de- 5 which-is indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 7 posited envelop, the fingers 114 willy-be and full lines in Figs. 2 and 3, runs over and raised into their uppermost in-operative po is driven b a larger sprocket 97 7 (see Figs. sition shown by the dotted lines 17,

shaft 7. This sprocket chain 96 also runs as best shown in Figs. 1, 17 a u 18. -It mai over the sprocket 50 ofthe feed roller 49 be here also 'noted that the rock shaft 11 and, hence, continuously drives the latter.' carries a centrally located finger 116 that-1' The said sprocket chain 96 is also guided by normally keeps the envelops presseddow frame brackets 1', as shown in F1g. 7. At one end, to-wit, as s own, its left hand To drive the lower sealing roller 86 from end, the rock shaft 115 is provided with-"a are journaled in the frame brackets 1, they coiled tension spring 118 that is anchoredto- 20 are provided with under gears 100 that mesh the adjacent frame bracket '1' (see particu- .8 y with an intermediateunder gear 101.jourlarly Fig.'18). On the arm 117 is a project- 'naled to the adjacent frame bracket 1, as ing stud 119 that coo era'teswitha trianbest shown in Figs. 10 and 12. 1 gular cam head120 t at is pivoted at 121, v Envelop packer.'- From the sealing rollto the rear'end of a long bar 122. This barf;

ers the sealed envelope are fed edgewise 122 is mounted to slide endwise through a downward to the so-called packer where keeper 123 on the left hand frame bracketl, they are accumulated in an approximately and at its front end, it is pivotally attached horizontal stack and closely packed together to the lower end of the arm 111 of the rock while' the drying of the gummed flaps is shaft 110. The full lines in Fig. 18 indi-' completed. The so-called packer includes a cute the position of the parts therein shown 95- i 55 113 carried 'by a continuously driven gear 18. When the lever 117 ",isin'the positi' long table or deck 102 provided with laterwhen the packer head 107 isin the osition ally spaced guide rails 10 3, all but the front shown by full lines in Figs..3 and 1;. The

- portions of which are loose and the rear ends cam head 120 is provided with a weighteda} thereof being yieldinglv drawn toward each arm 124 which normally holds the same other by a coiled spring 104. For this against thestud 119 as shown in Fig '18."'10i= packer mechanism, attention is particularly When the packer head 107 andthe bar1223j I called to Figs. 1, 3 and 17 t0. 20 inclusive. move's forward'jor toward the right in Mounted to slide on the table 102. between spect to Figs. 17 and 18, the 'cam head 120 ,the rails 103 and frictionallv held therebyis will first be carried forward of the stud 119 an envelop receiving rack in the form .ofa and it will then, by gravity, bedropped into 108?? fiat plate 105 having an upturned rear end the osition indicated by light dotted lines 106. The envelops are delivered directly on in ig. 18, its movement in this direction to this plate 105 and the first envelop is being limited by a stop pin 125 onthe said packed against the rear end 106 thereof. bar 122. Then when he said packer head The envelops are delivered just at the rear 107 and bar 122 arelmoved rearward or 1 a of a packet plate or head 107 which is cartoward the left in respect to Fig. 17 and Fig. t y the e end Of a long link 108, which 18, the inclined surface of the cam head 120' at the front end of the machineis pivoted to will engage the stud 119 and force the lever Y an arm 109 of a rock shaft110, which latter 117 into the position indicated by heavyis .journaled 'in the front portions of the dotted lines in Fig. 18. A little farther frame brackets 1. At one end, to-wit, as rearward movement of said cam head will shown' at its left hand end, the rock shaft carry the same under the stud 119 and the 110 is provided with another ar'm 111 that spring 118 will then throw the level-17? is connected by a link 112, to a crank pin back to its normal or full line position,

81 already described. shown by heavy dotted lines in Fi 1 8, the

When the gear '81 is rotated, the packer so-called retaining fingers114 will. e raised head 107 will,'as is evident, be reciprocated above the envelops on thef plate 105 and the c toward and from the upturned end 1000f said fingers will -be dropped into engage; the movable plate 105. ments with the last packed envelop before" Thelastenvelop a packed upon theplate the packer head recedes therefrom. When is engaged and the stack of envelope the packer head'107 and bar 122 are grieved held in position by retaining fingers 114 that forward or toward the rightin respeet to are carriedby a rock shaft 115 mounted in Figs, 17 and 18, the stud'119 will engage the 65 the rear-legs-of thefifranie bracket 1. By upper edge of the cam-head and force the same back into its normal position shown by full lines in Fig. 18.

What l claim is:

1. A machine for sealing cnvelops comprising two pairs of forwarding rollers and an intermediate moistening device, initial feeding means to present the envelops sing: v rollers. and means timed with respect to the action of said initial feeding'means to press the flap of the envelop against said moisteningdevice after both sets of rollers have operated to forward the body of said envelop past said moistening device.

2. A machine for operating upon envelops com u'isin, two pairs of rollers operative to forward an envelop in a single plane and an intermediate moistening device having its operative surface out of said plane, initial feeding means to singly and successively to the first pair of rollers. a bar and means timed with respect to the action of said initial feeding means to move the bar to cause the same to press the flap against said moistening surface after both sets of rollers have operated to forward the-body of theenvelop past said moistening device.

3. A machine for operating upon envelops comprising two pairs of rollers operative to forward an envelop in a single plane and an intermediate moistenine, device having its operative surface out of said plane, initial feeding means to present the envelops singly and successively to the first pair of Y rollers, a presser bar, and means timed with respect to the action of said initial feeding means to move the bar edgewise to cause the same to press the flap against said moist-oiling surface after both sets of rollers have operated to forward the body or" the envelop past said moistening device.

4. The combination witha moistening device, of means for feeding theenvelops to and past said moistening, device comprising a pair of rollers in front and a pair of rollcrs at the rear of said moistening device, means operative intermittently to present envelops singly and successively to the first pair of roller; and an intermittently operative flap pressing device timed with respect to the action of said presenting means to press the gummed flaps against said moistening device after the front pair of rollers has delivered the envelops and while the envelop issubjccted to the action of the rear pair o'l. rollers.

5. The combination with a moistening device and means for causing the same to operate intermittently, of means for feeding the envelops to and past said moistening, device 'comprisinn' a pair of rollers in front and a pair ofrollers at the rear of said moisten- 'ing device. and means to present the en-. vclops singly and successively to the front and successively to the first pair of present the envelop.

pair of rollers, and means for intermittently separating and closing: the members of the said pairs of rollers timed with resp ct to the actions of said feeding means and nioistoning device so that the envclops will be forwarded and moistened in definitely timed succession.

(i. The combination with a moistening device, of means for feeding the envelops to and past said moistening device comprising a pair of rollers in front and a pair of rollers at the rear of said moistening device and means to present the envelops singly and successively to the front pair of rollers, and means operative intermittently to separate and close the members of said pairs of rollers timed with respectto the actions of said feeding means so thatthe envelops will be moved past said moistening device in definitely timed succession.

7. The combination with an envelop magazine and a. reciprocating envelop feeding device, of a moistening device and a pair of rollers on each side thereof, at least one member of each pair being constantly driven, and means for separating and closing the first pair of rollers timed in action so that the rollers will be separated when the'reeiprocating device presents an envelop between the same and thereafter will be closed to forward the envelope pas the moistening device in definitely timed succession.

S. The combination with an envelop magazine and a reciprocating envelop feeding device, of a pair of intermittently separated rollers receiving the envelops direct from said magazine, a second pair of rollers receiving the envelops from the first "pair of rollers, a moistening device located be tween the said pairs of rollers and to which the guinmed flaps of the envelope are delivered by the said rollers, and an intermittently operative flap pressing: device timed to press the gummed flaps of the envelops against the said inoistening device while the envelop bodies are subject to the said second pair of feed rollers.

9. The combination with an envelop azine and a reciprocating envelop feeding device, of a pair of intermittently separated rollers receiving the envelops direct. from said magazine, a second pair of rollcrs recciving the cnvelops from the first pair of rollers, a moistening devicelocated bctween the said pairs of rollers and to which the gummed flaps of the cnvelops are delivered by the said rollers, levers provided with a flap pressing blade coiiperat ing with the said moistening device, and a can: operative on said lever and timed to cause the said flap pressing blade press the summed flap oi the envelop a i said moistcning device, substantially as lescribed. a

nst

an intermittently operative flap pressing deto permit said roller to remain stationary v ing fed iove1',-the same.

"rollers andover which the second pair draws tended flaps last,

' of while said closed edges are -from said transferring device. 140',

roller, ofmeans for i moistening roller, and means 'tently moving said molstening roller, timed {m said magazine,

rollers, and envelop sealing rollers receiv-- ing the envelops from said transferring de vice. 16. The combination with an envelop v magazine and a reciprocatory feed' device for discharging the envelops therefrom, one at a time, of two pairs of intermittently v separated feed rollers receiving the envelops from said feeder, amoistening device 10- 10. The combination with an envelop magazine and a reciprocating feed device for discharging the envelops, one at'a time, from said magazine, of a moistening'device including a rotary water distributing roller, a pair of feed rollers receiving the envelops from said magazine and forwarding the bodies thereof past said moistening device, a second pair of feed rollers receiving the envelops from said moistening device, and

' a transferring device receiving from the second pair of feed rollers, an m--' termittently operated flap pressing devicecooperating with the said moistening device,

vice cooperating with the said' moistenmg roller and timed to press the gummed flap of the envelop against said distributing roller while the body of the envelop is subject to the second pair of feed rollers. from said transferring device.

11. The combination with a flap moisten- 17. The combination with a flapmoisten ing device and means for feeding the. ening device and means for directing the -en-f velops singly and in timed succession to and of an envelop transferring over the same, body portions first and exincluding a pair of cooperating feed rollers receiving the closed edges of the envelops and operative on the bodies thereof while the gummed flaps are subject to the said moistening device, and means for intermittently separating the said rollers timed to'effect the separation therebeing inserted velops thereto,

each movable relatively to the moistener, one of which is segmental, for directing the envelops from said mo'istening device to said transferring device, means receiving the envelops transferring device.

18. The combination with aflap moistening device and means fordirecting the enbetween the said rollers. velops thereto; of an envelop transferring 12. The combination with a flap moistening device and means for feeding the envelopssingly and in timed succession to and past the same, of an envelop transferring device, said feeding means including intermittently separated feed rollers for directing the envelops from said moistening device to said transferring device, and en-- velop sealing means receiving the envelops feed rollers, one of which is segmental, operative to direct the envelops from said moistening device to.said transferring-de- -vice, and envelop sealing means receiving 19. The combination ing velops thereto, tive flap pressing the said moistening device, ferring device adapted to carry a multiplicity of envelops, cooperating feed rollers for directing the en 'elops from said mois-. tening device to said transferring evice, and envelop sealing mean velops from said transfer ing device.

20. The combination with a flap moistening device and means for directing the'envelops thereto, tive flap pressing device the said moistening' device, an envelop transferring device adapted to carry a multiplic- I ity of envelops, cooperating feed rollers for 1 directing the envelops from said moistening device to said transferring device,

sealing means receivingthe envelops fromwith a flap moisten-' device and means for directing the enof an intermittently operar device cooperating withv 13. The combination with a moistening feeding envelops to and past said roller, and means for intermittently moving said moistening roller, timed "while'ithe gummed flap of the envelop is be 114. The f c'ombination with a moistening roller, of rfieans for feeding the envelops to and past the same, means for pressing the gummed flaps of the envelops against said for intermitto permit the same to remain stationary while the gummed flap of the envelop is being prje'ss'ediagainst and is being drawn over the-same. Jj .lhe combination; with an envelop magazine and means for discharging the envelops therefrom, oneat a time, of two pairs of cooperating feed'rollers receiving the en- I a moistening device located; between the said two pairs of the same, including delivery of 5 e the extended flapsgmn envelop transferring a pair of cooperating 'device receiving envelops from the said and sealing rollers receiving the envelops. go

device, a pair of intermittently separated .cated between the said two pairs of rollers, 75 the envelops device, a pair of cooperating feed rollersgs 3 and envelop sealing from said 9o the envelops from said transferring device.- 10o an envelop trans- 10,5 a

receiving the enof in intermittently operacooperating with 1115 envelop 126' .said transferring device, and a timed e]ectf m said transferring d v feed rollers forwarding the envelops from 130' 

